Gun.



W. Il. POLITE.

GUN. l APPLICATION FILED SEIT.29l |516.

Patented Mar b 1917 3 SHEETS-SHEET I-` I I I I I ma Ix Nn. mm .N

, w. n. P oLlTE.

GUN.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT29| ISIS- Patented Mar. 6, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2 IIIIIIIIIIIII I lr.-

W I m d W. D.y POL'ITE.

`GUN.

APPucATloN mm sert. 29. 1916.

Patented Mar. 6, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

f f www i To all 'whom it may concern:

UNITED STATES PATENT oEEIoE.

wIL'LIaifr n. PoLITE, or WILMINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA.

GUN.

Be it known that I, WILLIAM D. PoLrrE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Wilmington, in the county of New Hanover and State ofNorthCarolina,.have invented -new and useful Improvements in Guns, of whichthe following is 'a specilication.

This invention relates to quick firingguns having particular referenceto the antialrcraft type, and embodies a shell magazine and breech blockwhich as a unit is suscepl tible of adjustment longitudinally of thejbarrel of .the gunfor various purposes to 1 15 be hereinafter fully setforth.4

One of the principal characteristics of the invention resides in therovision of -foot operated means for adjusting the shell mag azineandbreech block as a unit in the manner above stated.

In carrying out the invention I provide means for automatically removingthe shells singly from the magazine and positioning eachzshell withrespect to` the firing chamber, .to insure its introduction thereinto asthe breech block is moved in one of its diy rections.

The invention further contemplates the provision of means forautomatically removing the shell from the barrel ofthe gun immediatelysubsequent to the firing of the same, rPand ejecting the shell throughan openin in the breech block.

The invention also has for an object the mounting ofthe gun in a mannerwhereby the same can be quickly adjusted in either a horizontal orvertical plane, so that any desired movement of the gun may be obtained.

The nature and advantages of the invention, including other importantobjects, will appear from the following description when taken inconnection` with the accompanying drawings,n the invention residing inthe con struction, combination and arrangementof parts as claimed.

In the drawings forming part of this specification like numerals ofreference indicate similarparts in thev several views and VwhereinFigure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through the gun showing thebreech block in one of its positions and the shell arranged I to beintroduced into the firing chamber.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing theA breech block in its closedposition, and the ASpecification of Letters Patent.

. bracket 13.

Patented Mar. 6, 1917.

Applica-tion led September 29, 1916. Serial No. 122,909.

manner of introducing -one shell into the firing chamber, and theremoval of a new shell from the magazine. l

'F ig. 3 is a side elevation of the gun mounted upon its support.

Fig. 4 is an end elevation.

Fig. 5 is a viewA showing the invention used in connection with amotorvehicle. l

Fig. 6 isa detail sectional view of the supporting means.

The use' of the invention in connection with a motor vehicle issuliiciently characteristic of its utility, admirably illustrating theinvention, and constituting one of its most useful applications. But itis desired to have it understood that the invention is susceptible foruse" on board ship, and in connection with other suitable supports, and

such general application is'contemplated by 75 at its upperend, whilethe separated por-4 tions 14 defined by the bifurcationaresuit.- ablyapertured to receive the trunnion 15 projecting from opposite sides ofthe gun The gun is thus mounted for vertical adjustment, and toaccomplish this end 'I preferably em loy an -arcuateshaped rackbar.16with w ich meshes a worm gear 17 mounted upon theshaft 18., which latteri is journaled in suitable bearings on 'the The lower extremity of theshaft 18 carries a wheel 19, from which a handle 20 depends for rotatingthe shaft 18 with a consequent adjustment ofthe gun B. .It might here bestated that a seat 21 is provided for the operator, being mounted -uponthe table 11 and tosone side of the gun, and that the'handle 20is'located in the vicinity of the seat, in convenient reach of theoperator. The circular base 10 is provided with an internalcircumferential series of rack teeth 22 with.4 which a pinion 23 meshes,the pinion being carried on the lower end of a vertical shaft 24 whichis journaled in a suitable bearing 25- rising from the table 11.- Theshaft 24 is provided with a manipulating 11oy wheel 26 mounted on theoppositeextremity of :the shaft and in convenient reach of the operatoroccupying the seat 2l. Obviously, as the shaft 24 is rotated through theinstrumentality of the wheel`26, the pinion 23 meshing with the rackteeth 22 will rotate the table 11 with respect to the base 10, and thegun B adjusted in a horizontal plane. It is therefore clear that the guncan be adjusted vertically or horizontally with a view of obtaining thedesired range.

The breech block 27 and the shell magazine 28 constitute a unit that isadjustable longitudinally with respect to the barrel 29 of the gun, withthe magazine 28 disposed beneath the barrel in parallelism therewith,

land the breech block 27 slidably mounted upon the barrel and receivingthe adjacent extremity of the latter. These parts are susceptible ofthis adjustment for several yveryimportant purposes essential in a gun of the class in question, and this adjustment is accomplished by footAoperated means to be presently described. Rising from the table 11 area pair of spaced brackets 30, one of which is extended to provide thestandard for the seat 21. Journaledbetween these brackets is a crankshaft 31 whose formation defines pedals 32 which are disposed atopposite sides of the standard of the seat 21.

Fixed upon the crank shaft 31-is a sprocket wheel 33 over which istrained an endless chain 34, the chain being also trained over asprocket 35 loosely mounted upon the trunnijon 15 at one side of the gunB. Manifestly, with the operator occupying the seat 21 and operating thepedals 32, the chain 34 a'ctuatesthe respective sprocket wheels '33 and35 with a consequent V-rotation of the sleeve 15. Fixed upon this sleeveadjacent the sprocket wheel 35 is a relatively large wheel 36 which hasone terminal of an operating rod 37 eocentrically connected thereto,

theopposite end of this rod being SeCured to the s ell magazine 28. Asthe wheel 36 is rotated with the sleeve 15', coupled with the f factthat the operating rod 37 is cceritrically connected with-this wheel, areciprocatory movement is imparted to the operating rod 37 to effect alongitudinal adjustment ofthe breech block and shell magazine as a unitlongitudinally of the barrel 29 of the The breech block has an enlargedcentral compartment 38 which opens through the upper' side of vtheblock, and a relatively small compartment 39 located adjacent the baseof the block and communicatin with the large compartment 38. A shell liter operates within the breech block 27, and 'as shown in thisparticular instance embodies a substantially U- shaped member includinga base 39'., parallel side Walls 40 and an end wall 41, and beingfurther provided with a which project the extremities of a'pin'43 oon-'stituting a pivot for the shell lifter as a unit.

om the opposite sides of The extremities of the pin 43 are fitted insuitable guide grooves 44 provided by the walls of the compartment 39 ofthe breech block 27, the pin 43 and grooves 44 serving to guide theshell lifter in its movement within the compartment 39 in the manner andfor the purpose to be hereinafter described. An expansion spring 45 isarranged within the compartment 39 of the breech block, and has one endsecured to. the pin 43 and its opposite end secured to a nut 46, thespring tending to hold theshell lifter projected within the compartment38 of the breech block. The nut 46 is adjustable in a suitable o-peningin the rear of the breech tality of which the tension of the spring 45can be regulated. Arranged within the compartment 38 isa substantiallyV-shaped spring 47 having one limb secured to the base of the breechblock and its opposite limb bearing against the base 39 of the shelllifter, and operating to normally maintain the latter at the properinclination with respect to the barrel of the gun, to insure theintroduction of the shell into the firing chamber 48 when the breechblock is adjusted ina forward direction. The barrel of the gun is formedwith an inclined surface 49 which is engaged by the forward end of theshell lifter,'the inclined surface in a sense serving to limit theadjustment of the shell lifter 1n an upward direction and thereby assistthe spring 47 in positioning the shell carried by the lifter, withrespect to the firing chamber 48 for introduction thereinto. The endwall 41 of the shell lifter is provided with resilient fingers 50 whichengage the base or bead of the shell in the manner clearly illustratedin Fig. 1, to assist in holding the shellupon the lifter, but thepressure exerted by these fingers is ver slight and in no wa retards theremoval o the shell from 27. and the magazine 28 longitudinally of thebarrel 29 in the manner above set forth,

and as' the breech block 27 moves forwardly, the `end wall of the comartment 38 is 1 brought into engagement with the adjacent end of theshell 51. A continued movement of the breech block in this directiontends to move the shell 5l from its lifter, forcing the shell into thefiring chamber 48. It will i be noted however that'the base 39 of thelifter, by reason of-itsengagement with the inclined surface 49 of thebarrel cannot move forwardly, and is consequently forced rearwardly,which movement is permitted ment in this direction by coming in contactlwith the end walls of the grooves, during which operation the spring 45is compressed and placed under its maximum tension.

However when 'further movement of the shell lifter in a rearwarddirection is rohibited, the forward extremity of the ase 39 thereofstarts to` move downwardly against the inclined surface 49 of thebarrel,

and continues to move `in, this direction until it'is wholly disposedbeneath the barrel.

It will be noted that the parallel sides 40 of the shell lifter providecam surfaces 52 which follow the base 39 in turn to engage the inclinedsurface 49 of the barrel, and

it is only when the highest'points of these cam surfaces are whollydisposed beneath the barrel 29 of the gun, that the breech block 27;v ispermitted to assume its osition at the limit of itsadjustment in aorward direction, at which time the shell is exploded. This isaccomplished by the firing pin 53 projecting from the rear wall of thecompartment 38 being brought in contact with the adjacent end of theshell as will be readily understood.

Now', when the shell lifter m its entirety has been moved in the manner.just described to a position below the barrel 29 of the gun, the spring45 at that time being compressed undelfv its maximumtesion, this springimmediately expands `forcibly driving the shell lifter-in a forwarddirection in .the position illustrated in Fig. 2. During thls movementof the shell lifter the forward end of the base 39 thereof strikes theinclined surface which inclined surface directs the base 39 of thelifter downwardly, compressing the V-shaped spring 40 which compresslonallows the base 39 of the shell lifter to move the spring detent 53downwardly out of the ath of movement of the adjacent sheli with- 1n themagazine 28; As the spring 53 is thus lowered, a spring pressed follower54 tioned within the magazine 28 moves the shells in the magazine in adirection whereby one of the shells is forced upon the lifter occupyingthe position shown 1n Fig.. 2. However it is base 39 of theshell lifterand the spring 53 act inunison, allowing but a single shell 'to beejected from the magazine 28 onto the shell lifter, as the partsenumerated quickly return to a position whereby the oifset termlnal 55of the spring the path of movement of the shells, Ithus allowing but oneshell at a tlme be ejected from the magazine. The spring pressedfollower 54 is provided with a handle 5,6

.the follower to be retracted against the tento be borne inmindthat'the, y

53 4is again disposed 'in sion of thespring 58 when it is desired torefill the magazine with shells. The slot 57 at one end merges into abayonet slot 59, so that when the handle 56 reaches this point a slightturn of theI same into the bayonet slot59 willserve to hold thefollower'54 in a retracted position.

Now assuming that the parts occupy the positions illustrated in Fig. 2,and ,that the shell in the barrel has been exploded, the' breech block27 is adjusted rearwardly to the position illustrated inrFig. l. Duringthis movement of the block the shell is removed from the barrel throughthe instru mentality of ahook-like element 60 which engages over thebase of the shell in the manner shown in Fig. 2. Secured to the rearwallof the compartment 38 immediately beneath the hook-like element 60,is a spring 61, preferably of Y-shaped formation, the spring beingsecured at one end to the wall of the compartment, while'its branches 62are bowed outwardly normally as shown in Fig. 1. The spring 61 togetherwith the hook-like4 element 60 constitutes an ejector for removing theshell4 from the barrel -29 and also 4from the breech block 27 at theproper. time. .It will be noted that when the breech block is in theposition shown in Fig. 2 the branches 62 of the spring areysubstantially flattened and' thereby placed under tension, so that whenthe shell is entirely retracted from the barrel by means of thehook-like element 60, the branches 62 of the spring in assuming theirnormal positions' exert sufiicient pressure against the shell to ejectthe latter from the breech block 27 through the open top thereof.

Again,- as the breech block 27 is being adjusted from the positionillustrated in Fig. 2 to the osition which it occupies in Fig. 1, theshe llifter is bein simultaneously ad justed to immediatey at the rearof the barrel, in the position shown in Fig. 1. This move ment of theshell lifter begins whenthe inclined surface 56 of the magazine isbrought into linement with the inclined surface 49 of-t barrel, at whichtime the V-sha ed spring 40 begins topexpand causing the ree end' of thebase 39 of the lifter to move up wardly over the inclined surfaces 49and 50 .of thebarrel 29 and shell magazine 28 respectively. Theseinclined surfaces in a measure retard the movement of the shell ositionthe s ell carried thereby upon the inclined surfaces above mentionedfor'regulating the quickness with which the shell lifter is adjusted tothe position illustrated in Fig. l, as it will b e obvious that as theshell lifter is elevated under the infiuence of the spring 40, the saidinclined surfaces 49 and 50 effect a rearward adjustment of the lifter,during which time the spring is partly compressed, and thereby acts as acushioning means for the shell lifter in its entirety. Nou with theparts returned to the positions which they initially occupy, and clearlyillustrated in Fig. l the gun is ready for a second firing of the shellresting upon the lifter. By reason of the manner in which the parts areoperated, it Will be readily understood that a number of shells can`befired in rapid succession, and the exploded shells? just as quicklyejected, the structure in its entirety being positive in its operation.

While it is believed that from the foregoing description the nature andadvantages of the invention .will be readily apparent, I desire to haveit understood that I' do ndt -limit 4myself to this preciseconstruction,4

as what is herein shown and described is merely illustrative of thepreferred embodime'nt of the invention, and that such changes may beresorted to when desired as fall within the scope of what is claimed;

What is claimed isz- E 1. A n of the character'.described` embodying abreech block, anda shell magazine capable of movement longitudinally ofthe barrel of the gun, a. she l li '1f pivotally mounted within saidblock an automatically operable to assume a positirin;` to rez.

ceive a shell from the magazine 'upon adjustment of the block in onedirection, yieldable means supporting said lifter and o erating toelevate 'the latter within the l) ook at a predetermined interval uponadjustment of the latter i-n a reverse direction, and means for limitingthe upward movement of the lifter whereby said shell is pro erlypositioned relative to the barrel o the with said magazine uponadjustment of the block in one dlrection, means for automaticallyfeeding the shells singly from said magazine onto said lifter, saidyieldable means operating to elevate the lifter within the block 'at apredetermined linterval vwijten the block is adj usted-in the reversedirection,V

and means for limiting the movement' "ofthe lifter in an upwarddirection.

3. A gun of the character described 4embodying a breech block, and ashell magazine capable of adjustment longitudinally of the barrel of thegun, a shell lifter yieldably for automaticall supported within theblock and capable of independent vertical and sliding movements, wherebysaid lifter is automatically adjusted to a position to receive a shellfrom the magazine upon movement of said block -in one direction, andautomatically elevated sliding movement of the latter and uponadjustment of the block in one direction whereby said means operates toproject said lifter at a predetermined interval during the continuedmovement of said block, to a position to receive a shell from saidmagazine, means for automatically feeding the shells singly from themagazine-onto said lifter,

and yieldable means supporting said lifter and operating to elevate thelatter within the block at a predetermined interval during theadjustment of the latter in a reverse direction.

v 5. lAgun of thecharacter described embodying a breech block, and ashell magazine capable of'adju'stment as a unit longitudinally ofthebarrel of the gun, a shell lifter yieldably supported within the block,and automatically operable to assume a position upon adjustment of theblock in one-.

direction, to receive a shell from said magazin means forautomaticallyfeeding said she s sin ly from said magazine onto said lifter, saiyieldable means operating to elevate the lifter within the block at apreof the block in a reverse direction, and cushioning means associatedwith the lifter for determined interval during the adjustment ireta'rding the movement of the latter in an 5 upward direction.

6. In combination, a base, a stand sup.-

ported thereon, a gun pivotally mounted on lthe stand for verticaladjustment, means for adjustin said gun, said gun embodying a breechbock, and a shell magazine capable of'movement longitudinally of thebarrel of the gun,` means arran d within saidl block from the magazineto 'a position at the rear of said barrel, said block Voperating tointroduceV the shell from said position into the barrel, a seat mountedon the base, and foot operated means for effecting the adjustments ofsaid block and magazine for the purpose described.

7. A gun of the :character described emfee ing said shells singlybodying a breech block,` and a shell magazine capable of movementlongitudinally of the barrel of the gun, a shell .hfterpivotally mountedwithin said block and automatlcally operable to assume a position to reaceive a shell from the'magazine upon adjustment of the block in itsiring stroke, means carried by the block for extracting 'the shell fromthe barrel upon reverse movement of the block, saidimeans operating toexpel the shell from the block at a predetermined interval, yieldablemeans supporting said lifter and operating to elevate thelatter withinthe block at a predetermined interval during the adjustment of the blockin a reverse direction from stroke, and means for limiting the" upwardmovement of the lifter whereby said shell is properly positionedrelative tothe barrel of the gun for insertion therein. v

8. A gun of the character described embodying a breech block, and ashell maga ment carried b movement of the block, a yieldable meanscooperating with said element for expellin the shell from the block at apredetermine time subsequent to its extraction from the barrel,yieldable means supporting saidlifter and operating to elevate thelatter within the block 'at a predetermined interval, and means forlimiting the upward movement of the lifter whereby said shell isproperlyl positioned relative to the barrel of the gun.

In testimony whereof' I aiiix my signature.

WILLIAM D. POLITE.

